Wheat combine

Abstract

The present invention provides a combine of the type having a laterally extending header with proximal and distal ends, and a wheel/feeder separator assembly extending rearwardly from the header. The invention includes the following components: a circle mounted to the header adjacent a rearward facing portion of the proximal end for facilitating pivoting of the header along a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the circle; a frame member pivotally mounted to and extending laterally outwardly from the feeder/separator assembly to support the distal header end, the frame member defining a frame member pivot axis extending at a rearwardly converging angle with respect to the longitudinal axis; and a header support wheel rotatably mounted to the frame member and disposed laterally outwardly from the frame member pivot axis for supporting weight from the header.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: 
     
       1. A pulled combine of the type having a laterally extending header with proximal and distal ends, and a wheeled feeder/separator assembly extending rearwardly from said header, wherein the improvement comprises: circle means mounted to said header adjacent a rearward facing portion of said proximal end, for facilitating pivoting of said header along a longitudinal axis extending through the center of said circle means;   a frame member pivotally mounted to and extending laterally outwardly from said feeder/separator assembly to support said distal header end, said frame member defining a frame member pivot axis extending at a rearwardly converging angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;   header support wheel means rotatably mounted to said frame member and disposed laterally outwardly from said frame member pivot axis for supporting weight from said header; and   vertical pivot means defining a substantially vertical pivot axis disposed adjacent said circle means for facilitating the pivoting of said header as said frame member pivots upwardly and downwardly along said frame member pivot axis.   
     
     
       2. The combine of claim 1, wherein a second frame member is provided, also extending from and pivotally mounted to said feeder/separator along said frame member pivot axis. 
     
     
       3. The combine of claim 1, further comprising means for displacing said header upwardly and downwardly along a transversely extending axis to permit the height of said header from the ground to be controlled, said displacing means including a pair of hydraulic cylinders, one of which is displaced adjacent said feeder/separator assembly below said circle means, and the other of which is disposed adjacent one of said frame members. 
     
     
       4. The combine of claim 2, further comprising an upright header mounting post extending from at least one of said frame members adjacent said header support wheel means, and an included header support arm extending between said header mounting post and said header, and wherein said other of said hydraulic cylinders extends between said header support arm and a point adjacent said header mounting post. 
     
     
       5. The combine of claim 3, wherein said header support arm extends between an upper end of said header mounting post and a lower portion of said distal header end, and further comprising elongate, adjustable post/header connection means extending between said upper end of said header mounting post and an upper portion of said distal header end. 
     
     
       6. A combine comprising: a laterally extending header having proximal and distal ends;   circle means mounted to a rearward facing portion of said header adjacent said proximal end thereof facilitating pivoting of said header along a longitudinal axis extending through the center of said circle means;   a wheeled feeder/separator assembly disposed rearwardly of said circle means to receive cut wheat from said proximal end of said header;   a frame member extending laterally outwardly from said feeder/separator assembly and being pivotally mounted thereto along a frame member pivot axis, said frame member having proximal and distal ends;   frame member wheel means disposed adjacent said distal frame member end;   a header support arm extending between said distal header end and said distal frame member end to provide support to said distal header end; and   vertical pivot means disposed adjacent a distal side of said circle means for facilitating pivoting of said header as said frame member pivots.   
     
     
       7. The combine of claim 6, wherein said frame member pivot axis extends parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       8. The combine of claim 6 wherein said frame member pivot axis extends at an oblique angle with respect to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       9. The combine of claim 8 wherein said frame member pivot axis extends at a rearwardly converging angle with respect to said longitudinal axis.